By Tooba Abbasi

I once gave a hundred rupees note to a young boy knocking on my car window at a traffic signal—barefoot, dusty, and hungry-eyed. A week later, I saw the same boy in a different part of the city, wearing the same torn clothes, his story unchanged. That’s when I began to wonder: was I helping someone in need—or unknowingly feeding a system built on exploitation?

Begging, once seen as a sign of desperation and helplessness, has increasingly become a tool for manipulation.

In many cases, it is no longer about survival but exploiting human empathy for financial gain. From organized begging mafias to individuals who fake disabilities or distress, the act of begging is often staged to deceive passersby. This is a frequent occurrence especially during festive months or outside prominent places.

Public Perception: Sympathy and Social Media

Public has a conceived perception about beggars which is often influenced by social media. You might think someone is needy just because of late night scrolling. People tend to jump to conclusions too rapidly. They do this without thinking if the person in reality is needy or not.

This is a recurring event where Facebook groups are flooded with profiles of the needy but there isn’t a credible system to verify the cases which disadvantages the giver and benefits the wrong.

In 2025, the UAE Cybersecurity Council reported detecting over 1,200 instances of digital begging particularly during Ramadan. Scammers utilized fake accounts, emotional videos, and even deep fake technology to impersonate individuals in need, exploiting users’ goodwill to ask for fraudulent donations.

Reality of Begging Mafia

Sadly, begging has become a full-fledged business for many. With this there has been a surge in begging mafia in Pakistan who often exploit people through emotional tactics.

A local non-governmental organization studied the beggar mafia around Karachi and reported it generates close to PKR 32.2 billion per year from street begging during 2023. Furthermore, a recent 2024 report highlighted that Karachi hosts close to 50% of Pakistan’s estimated 38 million beggars and earns an average of PKR.2000 per day. These figures do underscore the meaningful scale of begging in Karachi, along with its economic implications.

It has been reported that approximately 38 million individuals are involved in begging across the country. With daily earnings varying city wise:

Karachi: Around PKR 2,000 per day

Lahore: Approximately PKR 1,400 per day

Islamabad: About PKR 950 per day

National Average: Estimated at PKR 850 per day

Collectively, beggars in Pakistan are reported to receive around PKR 32 billion daily, translating to an estimated PKR 117 trillion annually (approximately $42 billion). This figure is said to represent over 12% of Pakistan’s GDP.

This is an alarming concern that affects the entire nation. In a country already grappling with economic instability and political turbulence, such exploitative practices are not just threatening they are deeply damaging to our social fabric and future.

The Need for Reform

A stricter type of action against organized groups and professional beggars is surely a must for the authorities. The welfare programs reaching to the needy must be ensured at a level while the authorities act. Instead of enabling any cycle of deception, public awareness is so equally important that compassion should be directed toward rehabilitation efforts. We have a need for survival together.

This pattern that taxes society likewise redirects focus from people truly vulnerable. A lot of beggars pick this route, even if able-bodied, since it makes certain of income that is simple and untaxed. Depriving to them the chance of education as well as a future, several children are often forced into the many begging rings.

There must be a proper system that overlooks begging culture in Pakistan which aware, amplifies and work for betterment. Without such system, our country might keep on suffering from one such exploitation.

Conclusion

Begging has been corrupting our system far long enough. It’s time government bring an end to this never-ending chain of misery and exploitation. The ones who are in need must be helped through a transparent system which not only benefits them but contributes economically to the system as well.

Every coin we drop into an outstretched hand might feel like a small act of kindness but what if it’s feeding a system that’s trapping children like Ali in a life they never chose?

Real compassion means looking beyond the surface. It means asking supporting real solutions, and making sure our help reaches the needy.

Read – Pervasive Problem of Begging in Pakistan: A Multi-Faceted Issue

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Tooba Abbasi is a second-year Mass Communication student at the University of Karachi. She is a content writer.

The post Rise of Begging in Modern Society first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Zaheer Udin Babar Junejo

In our society, it’s ironic that those who seek knowledge and facts often find themselves sinking deeper into depression. We were taught that our nation was founded on the principle of unity, but as we grew we realized that the government promotes a divide-and-rule ideology.

Take, for instance, Hyderabad in Sindh, where lawlessness reigns, and essential items are unregulated, leading to poor quality and inflated prices. Citizens are left to consume harmful products like milk, food, water, and even life-saving drugs. Adding to this irony is the normalization of begging as a means of survival, if you try to enter a roadside shop you will be surrounded by 8 to 10 beggars of multiple age groups.

A recent report highlighted Pakistan’s position as one of the top nations in charity giving. However, this generosity often entrenches the marginalized in dependency, with grants, shelters, and free food handouts perpetuating reliance rather than fostering self-sufficiency. Shockingly, an estimated 3.8 million people resort to begging on the streets, comprising 12% men, 55% women, 27% children, and the remainder categorized as “well-off.” The prevalence of begging is highest in Sindh, followed by Lahore, Islamabad, and other cities.

The repercussions of this charity are felt in the form of over 37% annual inflation and a wasted workforce of 38 million people who opt for the streets instead of contributing to national development.

For beggars, Karachi seems like a haven, where they collect an average of 2,000 rupees daily, compared to 1400 rupees in Lahore and 950 rupees in Islamabad. This amounts to a staggering 32 billion rupees extracted from people’s pockets every day, totaling approximately 42 billion dollars annually. This not only perpetuates a cycle of exploitation but also fuels drug sales, child abduction, and street crime.

The repercussions of this charity are felt in the form of over 37% annual inflation and a wasted workforce of 38 million people who opt for the streets instead of contributing to national development. Alternatively, harnessing their potential through dignified employment could generate an income of 38 billion dollars, propelling the nation towards certainty and prosperity. Bangladesh’s example, where the cessation of the beggar system resulted in $52 billion in reserves within four years, serves as a testament to the transformative power of such a shift.

Our political leaders keep promising to transform the state into Medina State, yet it seems the past held more promise than the future. It’s challenging to sustain the motivation of our youth, unsure of when each citizen will truly enjoy the right to a dignified life. We hope for a government that not only governs but also prioritizes serving its people diligently.

Read: Beggary – A silent destruction of the Pakistani Society

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Zaheer Udin Babar Junejo, based in Hyderabad, is a specialist in Institutional Development, MEAL, and Fundraising. linkedin.com/in/zaheer-udin-babar-junejo-0a30a9152

Read: Does humanity still prevail?

The post Unraveling Ironies first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Anees | Saba | Rizwan |Tasbia |Aqsa

Beggary is a major issue in Pakistan, a country where a large portion of the population lives below the poverty line. The rising inflation and the lack of opportunities for many people have made it increasingly difficult for them to make ends meet. As a result, many have turned to begging as a means of survival. However, the problem of beggary in Pakistan is not limited to poverty alone.

According to the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), in 2022, there were between five to twenty-five million beggars in Pakistan – about 2.5 per cent to 11 per cent of the entire population. However, these numbers may not be accurate, as many beggars are not registered and operate in an informal economy. Women and children are in more demand by professional beggars, who often use them as props to keep the money coming in. Many of these people may belong to professional groups of beggars, controlled by mafias that run domestic begging circles – a lucrative business.

Many beggars belong to professional groups controlled by Mafia. Criminal gangs need to be tackled by the police, but the biggest problem is superstition

The culture of begging is deeply embedded in Pakistani society. Shrines dedicated to holy men are often magnets for beggars, especially children, as many believe that giving money to the poor will increase the chance of their prayers being heard. Unfortunately, this has led to the creation of a begging mafia that forces thousands of children into a life of slavery. Criminal gangs need to be tackled by the police, but the biggest problem is superstition. There needs to be more public discussion and education to teach people that there is nothing Islamic about leaving a child at a shrine or donating money to a child who is being forced to beg. People need to ask more questions and think about where these children are coming from. Only then can this problem be solved.

The government has laws in place to ban begging, but there is a lack of implementation and rehabilitation mechanisms for those who are caught

The issue of beggary is not just limited to the streets. It is also prevalent in Pakistan’s prisons. According to a report published by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), beggary is rampant in prisons across the country. In 2021 alone, there were 2100 beggars in jails. The report states that the beggars are often arrested on the streets and put in jail, where they are subjected to inhumane conditions. They are often forced to sleep on the floor, without proper food or medical care. Many of them die due to the harsh conditions.

The government has laws in place to ban begging, but there is a lack of implementation and rehabilitation mechanisms for those who are caught. Although the local police have been given the power to stop the beggars and arrest them, there is no mechanism for the execution. For example, if beggars are arrested and put in jail, it is not possible to keep them in jail for too long as the beggars are in great number and all of them cannot be put behind bars for a long time. Secondly, there are no reform centers where beggars can learn different skills to earn and live with dignity. There are organizations and shelter homes like ‘Panah’ that provide refuge to helpless women and children, but these are not enough to address the scale of the problem.

To address this issue, there needs to be a comprehensive approach that includes tackling poverty and providing more opportunities for people to earn a living. The government needs to develop a structured mechanism that will not be affected by a regime change, which includes rehabilitation and protection mechanisms for victims of beggary and trafficking. Civil society and service providers need to work with the government to address the issue of begging in Pakistan. There should be more awareness campaigns and education programs to change the mindset of people towards beggars and to discourage them from giving money to professional beggars.

Beggary is a complex issue in Pakistan that requires a multi-faceted approach to tackle it. It is not just a problem of poverty, but also one of organized crime, superstition, and lack of rehabilitation mechanisms.

According to a report by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Pakistan ranks 154th out of 189 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI). The HDI is a measure of a country’s development that takes into account factors such as life expectancy, education, and income. The report states that poverty and inequality are major drivers of low HDI in Pakistan. Therefore, any solution to the problem of beggary in Pakistan must address these underlying issues of poverty and inequality.

All in all, beggary is a complex issue in Pakistan that requires a multi-faceted approach to tackle it. It is not just a problem of poverty, but also one of organized crime, superstition, and lack of rehabilitation mechanisms. The government, civil society, and individuals all have a role to play in addressing this issue and creating a more just and equitable society where no one has to resort to begging to survive. To achieve this, there needs to be a more concerted effort to tackle poverty, provide more opportunities for people to earn a living, and to raise public awareness about the dangers of professional begging and trafficking. Only then we can hope to eradicate the nuisance of beggary in Pakistan and create a better future for all its citizens.

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Al the coauthors are students of BS (SS) 3-A, Study of Anthropology, SZABIST, Larkana Sindh

The post Pervasive Problem of Begging in Pakistan: A Multi-Faceted Issue first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Karachi

Deputy Commissioner South Karachi Captain (R) Mohammad Saeed Leghari Tuesday directed the police and Social Welfare Department to launch crackdown on beggars in the district.

“The police department should form a team along with the Social Welfare Department and Sindh Child Protection Authority and launch a crackdown on beggars and ensure that beggars are not allowed to stand at traffic signals,” he said while presiding over a meeting of District Coordination Committee meeting regarding the rights of children.

He said NGOs and media are also supposed to play a positive role and support the government in its campaign against those who exploit children by turning them into beggars.

On this occasion, DG Sindh Child Protection Authority, while briefing the meeting, said that violence against children was a crime and the mandate of SCPA, include measures to ensure the prevention of abuse, exploitative Labor /Begging and child marriage.

According to DG approximately 30 to 50 thousand underage children were involved in child Labor in Karachi.

He added, ‘It is important to provide police support to improve performance and anyone can complain about child abuse/violence/child Labor by calling the helpline 1121.

SCPA also plays a role in tracing missing children and reaching out to their families, while SCPA, in collaboration with reputed NGOs, provides psychological support to children who are victims of abuse and violence, he said.

The District Coordination Committee meeting was attended by Asghar Ali Ghangro Director General Sindh Child Protection Authority, Shayan Malik President FPCCI Standing Committee, Farida Yameen Additional Director Social Welfare Department, Fauzia Mason Director Sindh Child Protection Authority, Child Protection Officers of all districts of Karachi Division, Assistant Commissioners and officers of law enforcement agencies. (PR)

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The post Crackdown on beggars in Karachi ordered first appeared on Sindh Courier.